Washboard



Oct. 13, 1925- R. M. REEL WASHBOARD Filed Howl. 1922 Patented Oct. 13,1925.

UNITED STATES RALPH IVI. REEL, 0F CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, ASSIGNGR T0MARATHON RUBBER 1,557,555 PATENroFFIcE.

COMPANY, INC., 0F AKRONE QHIO, ,A OGRPORATION 0F (1)11101 WASHBOARD.

Application mea November'l, 1922. serial No. 598,404..

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH M. REEL, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Cuyahoga Falls, county of Summit, State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in lVashboards, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wash boards forlaundry purposes, particularly that type of board which is: providedwith a rubber or rubberlike composition facing which is roughened topresent a rubbing surface.

Wash boards of this type have been known prior to my invention, but thepurpose of the invention is to provide improved means for attaching thefacing to the framework of the board to insure a rm hold for the facing.In previous constructions of this type, an objection has beenencountered in securing the composition facing to the board. By myinvention, of which one embodiment is here illustrated and described,the facing member is securely attached and can not be dislodged. Theinvention aims to secure the facing in position without other fasteningmeans than that aiforded by the configuration of the rubbing member andthe frame of the board.

These and other objects will be apparent from the illustrated embodimentof my invention, it being understood that changes and alterations may bemade within the scope of the invention and the attached claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of wash board embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the Y line 4.--4- of Figure 3.

pied by the rubbing element or mat 7. This mat is formed of rubber or arubber-like composition with a roughened upper surface 8 of any suitableform. As here shown, the

surface is formed with a plurality of comparatively fine sharp ridgesyor serrations making the required roughened surface, Beneath` the matare arranged a plurality, here shown as three, of backing members orslats 9 arranged transversely of the rubbing surface and spaced apart asshown. The horizontal edges of the backing members are preferablyinclined or beveled outwardly and between the edges are receiveddovetail ribs 10 integral with the mat. The upper and lower edges of themat fit in grooves 11 in the transverse bars 4 and 5 and are formed withhalf dovetail ribs 12 which engage the edges of the adjacent backingmembers. The vertical edges of the mat and the backing members arereceived in the grooves 6 in the side frames 1.

While the backing members and ribs are shown as dovetailed so as tosecure a firm seating of the rubber mat, their formation may be varied.I believe that I am the first to construct a wash board of this type inwhich the rubber or composition mat or rubbing surface is secured so asto be retained in position against the severe strains to which it issubjected, and as such I am en titled to all equivalents in theconstruction and scope of the appended claims. This result is preferablyaccomplished without the use of metallic or extraneous fastening devicesand without the use of any fabric or similar material incorporated withthe rubbing surface.

What I claim is:

l. A wash board comprising, side frames and transverse members, a facingin the form of a continuous sheet forming the rubbing surface, aplurality of separate spaced transverse backing members beneath thefacing member and parallel ribs extending transversely of the back ofthe facing member l*and integral therewith and received between theseveral backing members.

2. A wash board comprising, side frames and cross bars, a mat formingthe rubbing surface of the board, a plurality of spaced backing membersextending across the side frames, ribs integral with the mat at theupper and lower edges and received between the cross bars and thetransverse members,

and additional transverse ribs integral with the mat and receivedbetween the edges of the spaced backing members. I

8. A wash board comprising, side frames -and cross bars, a rubber `matforming kthe rubbing surface of the board, a plurality of spacedtransverse backing members extending across the board beneath the mat,and parallel transverse ribs integral with the mat and dovetailed, saidribs litting between Athe backingfmenibers and serving to `secure themat in position.

the under side o 'the mat receivedbetween the backing members, thevertical edges of the mat and the backing members being received in thegrooves on the side frames.

5. A washboa-rd comprising, grooved side frames and cross bars, a rubbermat "'orming the rubbing surface of the board, a plu- `rality of spacedtransverse backing members extending between the side frames, the edgesof fthe' mat lbeing received in the grooves on the cross bars and theside frames, andthe ends of thetransverse mem bers being received in thegrooves n the side jbars, and integral .dovetail ribs arrangedhorizontally onthe yrear of the mat and received between 'the cross barsand the adjacent transverse members, and between Ithe several transversemembers.

RALPH M. REEL.

